Category Archives: adventure

I’m sharing these amazing five Maine Maritime Museum lighthouse excursions with you, because they are so fun and interesting that they book up well in advance! If you wait until just before you come to Brewster House, you probably either won’t get on the trip you most want, or may not get to go when you want. Not only is the Museum a fascinating depiction of the history of wooden (and modern) ship manufacturing as practiced on the Kennebec River and Bath, Maine, but also offers these dynamic river and coastal boat adventures, and Bath Iron Works & Town trolly tours. Share my passion and jump on one of these trips!

Bath has been a shipbuilding center in Maine since 1607, when the Popham settlement decided one Winter was enough in Sagadahoc (Maine at the time) at the mouth of the Kennebec River, and built their escape ship onsite. The Bath Iron Works continues that tradition, now with contracts for guided missile destroyers, and hopefully in the near future for the new generation of US Coast Guard cutters. The Trolley Tours are centered on sharing the history of the Town and BIW’s history from the building of the “Ranger” Americas Cup winner in 1937, through todays generation of stealth destroyers based on the Zumwalt (DDG-1000) & Arleigh Burke classes. Although the schedule is not in place as I write this, it will be daily (except Sundays), $32 for Museum non-members. See Maine Maritime Museum Tours for details. For the best view of the yard from the River, combine this tour with the Shipyards & Lighthouse Cruise! Again, daily @ noon, one hour, $32.

All the Lighthouse and River Cruises run from 6/13 – 9/5 Maine Maritime Museum boat cruises. There is a 6 Lighthouse Cruise and a 7 Lighthouse Cruise, the first being mostly confined to the Kennebec River lighthouses (but does go out to Sequin Island Light beyond the mouth of the Kennebec), and the second is a slightly longer river tour that includes a full river circle, including the Sasanoa and Sheepscot Rivers. The first is 2 hours in duration, and is offered on Sunday and Tuesdays @ 3:30PM for $39. The 7 Lighthouse Cruise is 3 hours long, and takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays, for $44 for non-members.

The Lighthouse Lovers Cruise is a 4 hour cruise that takes in some coastal beacons further east along the coast. So, not only do you enjoy the River lighthouses and Sequin, but it also takes in The Cuckolds (off Boothbay), & Ram and Burnt Island lights. This is a much more relaxing way to enjoy these from the water, than driving out to end of all of these peninsulas – $50. These are only on Saturdays @ 3:30PM.

Last, but not least, the Wildlife of Merrymeeting Bay takes you upriver to this unique huge natural sanctuary of fresh water, formed by the junction of 6 rivers, that is home to scores of bald eagles, ospreys, and migratory birds and fish of all sorts. Sturgeon and striped bass spawn in this beautiful bay! This trip is 3 hours long and is only run on Thursdays at 3:30PM. Of course, a naturalist will be on board to guide and inform you.

Freeport is right at the hard glacial turn east of the Maine coast, and so an amazingly well centered point to tour the coast, mountains or City of Portland from. Brewster House is perfectly located just a couple of quiet blocks from the busy LL Bean shopping mecca of Freeport, and the most luxurious spot to rest your tired body and renew your metro seared spirit! Call and we can help plan your time here, or book directly @ Brewster House B & B!

March is both the end of Winter and beginning of Spring, and so we all need an infusion of HOPE, so here are three fabulous March Ideas to “re-float your boat!”

It seems natural to start with the end of Winter, a perfect time to play outside! As those of you fellow Yankees know, early March can bring us some serious weather slaps in the form of BIG SNOW, while when the sun emerges, it is higher in the sky and brings on that magical warmth that’s been missing for a while. As you consider these dates, remember my last blog detailing Maine Restaurant Week, 3/1 – 3/12! So we open our offerings with a pair of outdoor weekend events to stir the souls of you adventurers.

On the weekend of March 5th/ 6th, we offer two local unique sorts of outdoor events that beg for your participation. The first on March 5th is an evening ski with the folks at the LL Bean Outdoor Adventure School that is a 6 – 9PM cross country ski tour. March 8th is a “new moon,” so the view of the Milky Way and planets should be magnificent! For details, check out http://www.llbean.com/llb/event/88012?occurrenceId=60054&locationId=515&feat=33-ods. $40 is the cost to play, and will take place on their own groomed trails a few miles east of Freeport, as well as hot chocolate and snacks at the event.

On Sunday 3/6, is the final event in the Bradbury Mountain Snowshoe Series, “The Bradbury Blizzard.”http://trailmonsterrunning.com/bradburysnow They will offer 3 levels of competitive courses around and up the mountain in this State Park 8 miles from our door. By the way, the view from the top reaches all of the way to Casco Bay.

As a long time ocean aficionado (both sail and motor), one of my favorite annual spring events is the annual Maine Boatbuilders Show! The Show starts on Friday night 3/18 and runs through Sunday 3/20. It takes place at 58 Fore St. in Portland and is very accurately described as “a gathering of the finest fiberglass and wooden boat builders on the East Coast!” That weekend always seems ripe with Spring sun and balmy breezes, and the facility is on Portland Harbor, not to mention some of the finest eating and drinking on the East Coast is a walk from the show!! www.portlandcompany.com/boatShow/index.html

If you’re looking for something different and fun to do around Freeport this Winter, try one of these five Freeport area winter blasts!

I know, I know, our Winter has been a little slow kicking in, but if you remember the timing of last year’s Winter, it wasn’t much different. By mid-January, it had kicked in in a BIG WAY! The POLAR VORTEX is moving in!

#1 is weather bullet-proof, VISIT AN ICE BAR! Wow, they’re like Maine micro-brews, inn that you have a plethora of choices. The first will be offered at Spire & Ice Inn Gotham, January 15-16; the second at the Portland Harbor Hotel on the following weekend, third at the Brunswick Hotel & Tavern February 4-6, and finally here in Freeport on February 19 & 20 as part of “Flavors of Freeport.”

How about a biathlon? A BIATHLON is a competitive endurance event combining cross-country skiing with target shooting. For $25, this event in Jefferson, Maine (1/2 hour east) is open to all, even beginners, including the opportunity to borrow an air rifle and receive instruction before heading out. In the best tradition of Maine events, beer and hot toddies are available! By the way, Pineland Farms, 15 minutes from Brewster House is the practice ground for the US Biathlon Team!

US Toboggan Championships

In the summer, Bradbury Mountain State Park hosts competitive Mountain Bike and running events, but in the winter turns to their SNOWSHOE Series. http://trailmonsterrunning.com/bradburysnow About 8 miles west of us in Pownal, these events are offered on 1/24, 2/14 and 3/6. These races range from 3 to 5 miles long. Although they have a few pair of snowshoes to loan, it would seem that if you’re up to racing, you would likely have your own (they’re on a 50% off sale as I speak @ LL Bean).

I’ve written about this before, but it’s so fun and Mainely unique, it’s worth a visit! It’s sort of a Mardi Gras built on the US NATIONAL TOBOGGAN CHAMPIONSHIPS at Camden Snow Bowl from Feb. 5-7. http://www.camdensnowbowl.com/toboggan-championships/ For $30, you can compete on your 2, 3 or 4 person toboggan, by taking your waxed up toboggan down the 400’ iced wooden chute and across the frozen pond at it’s base. Most teams are in costume, and the eats and drinks are a large part of this annual show.

February 6th brings the SNOWMAN ADVENTURE RACE on East End Hill in Portland, 15 minutes south of us. This sounds like a mini winter-biathlon! http://www.snowmanadventure.com Every piece begins with a run up East End hill and a return sled down with teammates sledding as one to the finish. This event is a 2 person relay, made up of a 4-1/2 mile bicycle race around the Back Cove, a 2-1/4 mile run around the East End and the Back Cove. There will be mens, women, co-ed and adult-kids teams as well.

No matter your event choice, we have ample toboggan, sled, bike and snowshoe parking here at Brewster House, and are well equipped to soothe your body & mind post event, with a hot bath, ironed sheets and bottle of your favorite wine! Call us at 207-865-4121, or online at www.brewsterhouse.com to reserve a fireplace room!

Come and let us host you at the the best inn in Freeport!! I was going to title this blog “Value,” but I came to the conclusion it made more sense to simply cut to the chase! What we’re talking about here is described partially by buzz words like “elegant, relaxing, gourmet, built in details, fire-placed rooms, and attention to service.” Really, I want to paint you a picture of why Brewster House is where you will prefer to stay in Freeport!

Mary & I got into the hospitality lifestyle and business with two predominant ideas in our heads;

1. One was to own an intimate lodging (which quickly looked like that would mean 6-10 rooms) so as to “keep it simple.”

2. The second was to provide the highest levels of comfort, relaxation, kindness and a breakfast “to die for.”

Strawberry French Toast

If you’re like most of us 21st century humans, your leisure time is very limited and so by definition, precious! When you finally get to escape the overbearing demands of work, family and home, the commute needs to disappear behind a relaxing, quiet experience, totally different in character from your everyday grind, the answer is a turnkey escape. You don’t want to be distracted by a less than immaculate room, a not-so-comfortable mattress, less than a bone warming shower, or a just so-so breakfast, amidst a herd of loud pajama clad, rude, cardboard waffle & Aunt Jemima addicts. What you had in mind were a cool glass of wine by a warm fire in a beautiful room, with a great bed and ironed sheets, your perfect pillow, plush robe and a breakfast you’ve been dreaming about…… Add to that your choice of white sand beaches, shopping, golf, museums, sailing or learning a new sport! In this perfect escape, your hosts would be there to help, but not intrusive, full of ideas (when asked) about where to eat, where to explore, what to do, what micro-breweries to visit, or who to go out on the water exploring with. The intimacy of a quiet, private breakfast, or the choice of chatting and laughing with other folks from a world you may or may not recognize, as your option.

Marshall Point Room

Our focus is totally on you and your FREE time. We want to help make this special moment in life the best it could possibly be! So, our eyes are on the issues that we would look for in a great place to stay; In summary, bed, bath and breakfast. At Brewster House we also take pride in our “concierge services,” be that recommending great places to go, things to see, unique experiences to try https://brewsterhouse.com/2014/05/01/eight-awesome-mid-coast-maine-things-to-do/ or simply picking you up at the Amtrak station from the Downeaster. Our bathrooms are large (6 of 7 include full tubs), private and are furnished with the finest, most absorbent towels and fine toiletries. We recently upgraded our WiFi system to a true high-speed fiber-optic cable to help make your stay seamless, be it purely leisure, or if you’re stuck with including a bit of work on your escape. We’ve partnered with the best local restaurants, charter boat captains, museums and outdoor experiences, such as the LL Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools http://www.llbean.com/llb/ods/33?page=outdoor-discovery-schools.

Archery class w/ LL Bean

Mary is constantly adopting, inventing and embellishing in the kitchen, as spectacular breakfasts are truly her primary mission here. I’m always looking to add landscaping features, make sure all of our building systems work well and appear seamless, as well as for ways to bring real Maine to our rooms and public spaces. This year, we’ll be adding a Maine Funbook to the living room with ideas for things to do, see and eat, including provisions for our guests to add their own great recommendations.

If VALUE is what you’re looking for in your Freeport adventure, you can’t do better than Brewster House Bed & Breakfast!!

For those of us Mainers who love the outdoors, a significant transition marker every spring is the annual four day Reggae Fest at Sugarloaf Ski Resort. A fabulous outdoor event marking the coming of spring with the last days of spring skiing!! If you haven’t participated and you’re a lover of Reggae, skiing, boarding or the outdoors, GET HIP!!

In other miscellaneous news, Amtrak is offering $10 one-way adult fares between Brunswick (one stop past Freeport) and Haverhill, MA on the Downeaster weekends of April 12 & 13, and May 17 & 18. COME UP AND SEE US!! We’ll even pick you up and drop you off at the Freeport Station (call to make arrangements)!! We’re already pretty busy for that second weekend, so don’t wait to make reservations! AmtrakDowneaster.com/deals is the link to Amtrak, but my instructions read you need to call Natalie Bogart at 207-780-1000 x108 to make arrangements.

Ahhhh, WHITE WATER RAFTING, one premier wilderness Maine experience!! If you’ve not had one of these thrill rides, this year is the time! Rafting is a team event, with the in-raft guidance of your personal experienced guide, who is also your boss, calls out instructions and steers the raft. The three rivers we run in Maine, the Kennebec, Penobscot and Dead Rivers, are all dam controlled, and transit pristine wild, beautiful country. The first two are also the primary drainages for the state, the Kennebec enters the Gulf of Maine not far from here, and the mighty Penobscot carved out Penobscot Bay, an hour + east of here.

All full trips run about 4 or 5 hours and cover about 15 miles of river. Many companies run shorter ½ trips too. The Kennebec and Penobscot are run year round, depending on daily releases from hydro-elecrtic dams for the ride. The Dead is run a couple of weekends in the spring and fall, via flood control releases from Flagstaff Lake, east of Mt. Bigelow, across Carrabassett Valley from Sugarloaf, and is the only ride with consistent rapids the entire distance. The Penobscot run starts east of Moosehead Lake (just south of Baxter State Park), and as the river includes class 4 and 5 rapids, is the wildest ride of the three. Out family has rafted all but the Dead multiple times and will agree the Penobscot is the most intimidating, although many of it’s later stretches laze bucolically under the majestic Mt. Katahdin. Most of the rafting companies that run the Kennebec are quartered in The Forks on that River, and you get in below the dam at the West end of Indian Pond, which empties Moosehead Lake (which at 45 miles long is one big a– lake!).

YOU WILL GET WET, so a wet-suit rental is a good idea on all but the warmest days, as the water that emerges from the depths of these big damned lakes IS COLD! All rafting companies have them available, as well as including helmets and other safety equipment. Rides begin with a safety briefing and practicing your teams response to your raft Captains’ commands. Halfway down any trip, you pull over for a scrumptious grilled lunch, hot drinks and of course, the brews flow after any trip, as you watch videos of yourselves negotiating the rapids.

A Google search will produce a number of options, but a place to start might be www.northernoutdoors.com. Most of these are based about 2 hours north of Freeport, and the plan is for us to be your cony refuge after (or before) your adventure! Believe me when I tell you that you can’t have more thrills (& lunch) for under $100!!<

Thanks to my children, one of the few skills I’ve learned in life is that there are times when you need to be able to laugh at yourself, and this one’s a classic!

Needless to say, our snow blower has had some serious exercise this winter.Before the recent thaw, when the snowpack was at its peak here, we had a veritable glacial pack of ice on the slope of our driveway, leading down to the lower parking lot.So, about a week and a half ago, my sister and I were headed out for a ski day, but the afternoon/ evening before we were bathed in about a foot of powder snow.Of course, the inn-keeper cannot leave the inn and Mrs. Innkeeper in such an inaccessible situation, so after digging out a path from the cellar to the driveway for my trusty snow-blower, this veteran team (Scott and his trusted Ariens) headed down the path to attack the blanket covering the driveway.

Before we started our snow clearing campaign, my Wife warned that I should be wearing my elastic/ metal stud cleats over my boots, but of course I knew I could handle the ice with only the aid of my vintage LL Bean boots, and gazelle-like reflexes.Well, it was SLICK as I and my trusted machine turned down slope, but only on the return up-slope swing would the folly of my ways become apparent!About a third of the way up the hill, my feet started to slip and at the same time, it was so slick (think hockey rink), the snow-blower itself started sliding left as the knobby tires were desperately clawing for grip.At about this point, yours truly assumed the grace of a seal on wet seaweed, so helpless that my death-grip on the blower handles only limited a catastrophic collapse to a cursing, graceless slide down-hill.“Damn” I thought, “better get the cleats as Mary suggested.”A PAINFUL MOMENT INDEED!

I managed to use the rougher snow beside the driveway to slog my way back up the driveway, muttering curses, to climb back inside (head bent low, having lost the first skirmish) and do as Mary suggested, before we went back into battle.Having pulled my trusty LL Bean cleats over my boot soles, I headed back out to whop that hill.OK, so now I can JUST make it up the hill, but the snow-blower is not wearing the same cleats.The only strategy that got us both up the hill was the “dig into the deep side” with the left blower wheel, but it was crystal clear that the hill was NOT to be defeated that night.So, with visions of being mangled by a helpless Ariens snow-blower, we reduced our plan to flanking the enemy, cleaning off only the upper driveway.Man, am I clever, or what?

After about ½ course up the upper lot, I felt the one cleat drop off of my boot.OK, OK, so I STOMP back over to the back steps with the lost cleat in hand, plant my butt on the step and stretch that freakin thing back over my boot!A couple of turns up and down the upper parking lot, I became aware that my left foot was feeling noticeably higher than my right, realizing with great irritation that one of the cleats had dropped off of my right boot AGAIN, searched up and down the lot for the bright red cleat.UNBELIEVEABLY, that red cleat had disappeared!ALRIGHT THEN, maybe it’ll show up in Spring!

So, I managed to follow the blower to the end of the job with my weird gait, left foot higher than right. I should explain at this point that one cannot wear cleats on one’s beautiful maple wood floor without making it into a “distressed” floor, so there is a delicate ballet that goes with donning and removing them, as one leaves and re-enters the house. After climbing back through the back door to drop my rear end onto the chair and wondering if I’d ever see the right cleat again, I removed the remaining cleat from my left boot.As the cleat came off my left boot, I could feel something strange under the cleat.You know the Beatles song “When I’m 64?”There was cleat #2, RIGHT UNDER CLEAT #1!!

My Wife and Sister didn’t stop laughing and gasping for air for at least ½ hour! TOTALLY PATHETIC!Skiing was excellent the next day though!

It’s not easy to come up with new & dynamic subject matter when it’s so (relatively) quiet and, unless you’re skiing (skating, curling, etc.), outside time tends to be limited.We did have a busy Valentines Day weekend, with great guests though, and we enjoyed that!

We are involved in a new collaboration that will likely be THE great travel tool for all of you with mobile phones.I’m going to guess that at least 40% of the guests I spoke to here since May 2013 used their phone at some point in the travel process here!Of course, those numbers will explode in the next few years.

Brewster House is committed to a new effective website for you, and is always interested in improving on your ability to access ways to more easily enjoy your

time off.To that end, we recently signed up to be a partner in a mobile travel web-site called GO TRIPPINwww.go-trippin.com.GO-TRIPPIN is an affiliate of Google’s new Niantic Labs FIELD TRIP site.Google is betting that mobile phone apps are already moving to dominate how folks find eating, playing, drinking, historic and other fun and interesting places.Brewster House is the exclusive correspondent for Freeport, and as such, will be offering monthly articles and photos about THE BEST PLACES TO BE AROUND FREEPORT, whether it means eating, boating, beaching, shopping, etc.!

Do yourself a favor and add this app to your phone (it’s free)!www.fieldtripper.com.It is amazing in it’s growing depth and complexity!Play with it, and be aware it can be as proactive, and as intrusive, or in the background and as limited as you choose, but I guaranty this will be the best tool you will see for a long time to enjoy wherever you may be!If you dare, leave Field Trip running attached to Siriand drive through an interesting area, , and you’ll start to understand what I’m presenting here!

Our first piece will be for Azure Café, our local favorite place to eat and drink.Since the pieces we write cannot be colored with our prejudices, I will reserve that for a monthly blog post, so keep checking in to share in the best that Freeport has to offer!

We will be sharing a new recipe monthly in our blog, so keep an eye out for it. My next blog is going to have you wetting yourselves with my latest “When I’m 64” misadventure!

Here’s a photo of our snowpack at it’s maximum last week! I think I cleared the property FOUR TIMES in the last week. Love to ski on it, but moving it……..

At least the sun is starting to feel like the sun when it’s out! Next time I write, the Cape Neddick Room will be brandy new!

Ah, Wow and Thank God for another Christmas!I saw a very melancholy Facebook post from an old friend who unintentionally reminded me how lucky the Giles are, and after our wonderful family, that would include owning Brewster House and having the privilege of knowing all of you!

What has been exciting and powerful is the early winter, which I understand is not unique to Maine!We got about 20” of snow here between last Sunday and Tuesday, and Tuesday AM was -3 degrees Fahrenheit!! I’ve been skiing a couple of times already, and the last time was on 14” of new natural snow – VERY NICE!There were some great photo ops, but to be honest, I just couldn’t face removing my fingers from my mittens long enough to take a picture, sorry!

Brewster House looked gorgeous all dressed up in snow and lights, and our guests have really enjoyed hanging by the fireplace in the living room.Seeing our guests relaxing there truly makes us smile, as the point of refurnishing it was to make the salon a place you would feel at home in….having a glass of wine, reading the paper, playing cards with friends, NICE!!!

Poor Buddy’s been not feeling well for a month, with digestive/ eating problems.Scary to watch your dog lose ¼ of his weight in a couple of weeks!He seems to be coming around, we’re working at it as we really do love our dog!As you can see, he’s still dashing in his Christmas coat, Red Sox leash & collar!

Don’t for getyour outdoor winter options here that I alluded to in my Early Wintah Blog for the January Winter Carnival Weekend & Flavors of Freeport in February.Also, LL Bean offers regular “learn to” cross country ski, and snowshoe adventures at their Outdoor Discovery School http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/1000001692.This Winter is certainly shaping up to be a fine one for playing in the snow, and believe it or not, we’re getting a little busy in January!!

Scott & Ruth recognized their frequent guests with a discount.We think that’s the right thing to do, but where we don’t necessarily know you all as well, will formalize a program so when you book, we will automatically know you as “Friends of Brewster!”So, visit us four times, and from the fifth visit on, we will “take special care of you!”Of course, this discount will be outside of special discount promtions such as our “Winter Wonderland” promotion for January.

Lastly, if you’re not on the Newsletter list, you might’ve missed my mention of our success and interest in Reconnect Weekends.We can offer you a fabulous price if you can commit to renting all 7 rooms from us on any 2 day weekend that’s available in January, March, April or May.We need a leader of a group to commit to a full weekend for 7 rooms, & we’ll ask for a 50% deposit up front.In return, you own Brewster House for a weekend for just over 50% of the per room rack rates!!Of course, we’ll serve the same elegant breakfasts, and can offer additional wine, or breakfast cocktails and our dining and living rooms for your pleasure.Call for details!!

Thanks for being so kind and forgiving in our first half year of learning to be inn-keepers, and Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!!

You know, when I wrote that title, I was only thinking of my stunning motorcycle adventure this last Monday, but it certainly applies equally to our first 6 months here!

Mary, Siobhan, Ivy and I finally gave ourselves 5 days off this week after non-stop inn-keeping since the end of May.Of course, Mary and I spent most of that time bettering our digs here in the carriage house, but we did squeeze in a little well deserved “R & R,” as well as procuring a few dashing (old) new furnishing additions for your visiting pleasure.

On Monday, Bella (my black Italian motorcycle) and I headed north-east on Route 1 for some exploration and adventure.I brought the good ole Nikon point and shoot to contribute to a book we will start this Winter on “Adventures Available” from Freeport, for your perusal and pleasure on visiting with us.

After several miles, the protected waters of Montsweag Bay started to appear between breaks in the spruce trees to my left.Wow, what a place to have a camp or a home!After 5 more miles, a state sign for Reid State Park appeared to my right.What a lovely and diverse jem of nature!! A long straight beach backed by an ocean meadow, and lovely rocky inlet to an interior bog.A bus full of school kids in boots exploring the shallows, doesn’t even notice Bella. Gotta go there again with Mary and Siobhan!

Back north on 127, we stopped to explore this sweet little cove, and take a couple of photos.They used to build schooners here in the 1800’s.Fuzz your eyes up a bit and it’s easy to imagine the sounds of cutting and shaping wood and the sounds and smells of horses and working forges!

Back to Rt. 1, not a thrilling drive in the best of conditions, even less so with squally rain and gusting winds!East to lunch via Wiscasset and Newcastle, then to Thomaston, just west of Penobscot Bay….to the Maine State Prison Store.I think legend has it that the prison that used to surround the rear lot behind the rear of the store was the same prison that was a model for “The Green Mile,” the Stephen King story. The store is deceptively large inside and includes everything in the way of beautifully crafted woodshop craft from wood trivets to large bookshelves, ships, end tables, great toys, chess boards and on!!I think we’re going back for a nice ash coat peg-board for our house.As I go to leave and am getting ready to ride, my helmet gets blown off of the seat and rolls across the parking lot. WICKED P—–!! If you don’t know, that’s a particular New England expression of disgust…..

Drove back north through Jefferson, then back west to Gardiner and south along the Kennebec on rt. 24 to home.165 miles from where I started, I’m approaching home and it’s 47 degrees, and the sun is low on the horizon!! Wish you were here, this was onefine Maine adventure!!